Prepare to be captivated by the extraordinary story of Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand's former Prime Minister, as it unfolds on the big screen!
In the world of cinema, the 2025 Sundance Film Festival unveiled a star that shone brighter than any celebrity in attendance. Amidst the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Oscar winners Olivia Colman and Daniel Kaluuya, and other notable figures, it was a political powerhouse who stole the show.
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, a charismatic leader, made her presence felt at Sundance with the world premiere of a documentary aptly titled "Prime Minister." Directed by Lindsay Utz and Michelle Walshe, the film chronicles Ardern's remarkable journey to the leadership of her nation at just 37 years old.
"We couldn't move without being stopped," Utz recalls of their Sundance experience, highlighting the immense popularity of Ardern and her husband, Clarke Gayford, who turned heads with his good looks and charm.
The documentary, now streaming on HBO Max and CNN's streaming service, showcases Ardern's unexpected rise to power. In 2017, she became the Labor Party chief after her predecessor's abrupt resignation, which was triggered by a dire public opinion poll. Ardern's election as party leader was unique, as she hadn't undergone the typical image-shaping process that prepares potential leaders.
"Jacinda showed up as herself, unapologetically," Utz observed. "She wasn't told to focus group or poll test her image; she didn't even know she'd become Prime Minister. She had no choice but to be authentic."
This authenticity resonated with New Zealand voters, who kept the Labor Party in power, making Ardern the PM. She officially took office in October 2017, becoming the youngest world leader at the time.
Clarke began documenting Ardern's ascent to power, capturing her journey from the beginning.
"In 2017, when I became Labor Party leader, Clarke just started filming with his phone," Ardern told Deadline. "We didn't discuss it; we knew we were on an unknown path, and it felt important to capture it. I was reluctant at times, but I'm glad he did."
Ardern faced crises as Prime Minister. On March 15, 2019, a gunman attacked a mosque and Islamic center in Christchurch, killing 51 people. Ardern helped her nation grieve and promised to change gun laws, which she successfully implemented. A year later, she, like leaders worldwide, had to tackle the devastating COVID-19 outbreak.
"I admired Ardern from afar for years. I first noticed her when she passed the gun legislation and her handling of the Christchurch massacre was so moving," Utz said. "During the pandemic, I craved science-based leadership, and I tuned into her briefings on CNN and MSNBC."
Ardern kept New Zealand's infection rate low, but a backlash eventually emerged. Anti-vaxxers and New Zealand's MAGA-like movement attacked her. Ardern faced typical leadership challenges, but also handled crises and political backlash while raising a child. She gave birth to her daughter, Neve, in 2018, becoming only the second world leader to have a baby while in office (the first being Pakistan's late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto).
In January 2023, Ardern surprised supporters by stepping down. She later accepted a teaching fellowship at Harvard, where filmmakers Walshe and Utz interviewed her for the documentary.
"She was burnt out; she went through a lot after having a baby," Utz observed. "She said she didn't have enough fuel, and that's true. But I think she was ready to move on."
This year, Ardern became a Distinguished Fellow and member of the World Leaders Circle at Oxford University's Blavatnik School of Government. She also published a memoir, "A Different Kind of Power," referring to her belief in a politics style vastly different from Donald Trump's.
"She put kindness and empathy first. That guided her," Walshe said. "It was liberating for female leaders like us; we don't have to fill gaps because we're not men. We can lead with naturally female traits."
The film, in contention for the Academy Awards, opens in the UK on Friday. With Jacinda, Clarke, and Neve now based there, it offers the chance for more Q&As with the former Prime Minister, who is sure to be a draw in Britain as she was at Sundance.
"They're as lovely in person as in the film," Utz said of Ardern and Gayford. "I'm excited to see them and Neve; you form an attachment with your subjects."
Little Neve seems to have inherited her mother's political savvy. Grace Zahrah, who edited the documentary, recalled meeting Neve, then around 5 or 6.
"When I met Neve, she looked at me and said, 'You look familiar; I've seen you before,'" Zahrah recalled. "She's very smart. When we left, she said, 'I hope I see you again.'"
"We kept that in the movie when Neve walks around shaking hands in the office," Utz added. "Humor was important to us; the best films take you on a journey of happiness, sadness, joy, and trauma, and this story has it all. We wanted to create that experience for the audience."
Will this documentary capture the hearts and minds of Oscar voters? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Jacinda Ardern's story is a captivating and inspiring journey that deserves the spotlight.
